St. John Bosco dominates Mater Dei – (Updated) Top 20 Southern California football game roundup (10/13/2023)
What was dubbed the biggest night of the regular season – Friday the 13th – did not disappoint. Here's a look at the results of the Top 20 games in Southern California for Week Eight (games Oct. 12-14).
Check back throughout the night and weekend as we update the roundup with more details from the top 20 games, plus the sights, sounds, and scores from other big SoCal matchups. You can also track updated scores across SoCal at our scoreboards below.
Last update: 8:37 a.m. Sunday
SCORES Oct. 12-14:
LA City Section: Thursday, Friday, Saturday
San Diego Section: Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Southern Section: Thursday, Friday, Saturday
20. Tesoro 37, Capistrano Valley 22
Capo was one of many unbeaten teams to pick up its first loss on Friday. Tesoro led 21-0 at halftime on its way to a convincing win over the Cougars in both teams' South Coast League opener. Cash O'Byrne threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns for the Titans, and Travis Wood contributed 158 yards and two TDs on the ground.
PREGAME: Four-team leagues are often the biggest bloodbaths of any conferences in Southern Section territory. And the South Coast League might be the best example. After this week, Capistrano Valley and Tesoro's final opponents will be Mission Viejo and San Clemente, and then it's playoff time. The two south OC stalwarts have to beat each other – or one of the two incumbent giants – just to not get last. Capo's unbeaten streak will be put to the test in an evenly-matched battle that both teams will be extra motivated for.
19. Rancho Cucamonga 49, Chino Hills 0
After struggling to put opponents away before crunch time during the first half of the regular season, Rancho Cucamonga is getting its blowout on with league play here. Rancho followed up last week's 35-7 rout of rival Etiwanda by thrashing Chino Hills 49-0, setting up a Baseline League championship next week against Damien, which is also unbeaten. Trey Wilson ran amok for 250 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.
PREGAME: On paper, this looks like a lopsided game in the making, and maybe it is. Rancho Cucamonga has one of its highest-ranked teams ever at 7-0, and last week's 35-7 win over rival Etiwanda was perhaps its best of the year. However, Chino Hills already pulled out one shocker in the Baseline League, which is known for its unpredictability, when the Huskies stunned previously-unbeaten Etiwanda. Chino Hills came back down to Earth last week when it lost 34-7 to Damien, making it hard to imagine an unexpected result in Week Eight. Still, Chino Hills was also a heavy underdog when it shocked everyone with a 20-6 win over Rancho Cucamonga to open league play two years. So if the Huskies have one more shocker left in them, this would be the time. Especially if Rancho Cucamonga gets caught looking ahead to next week's mega-clash with Damien.
18. Thousand Oaks 36, Moorpark 23
Not only does Thousand Oaks handing Moorpark its first loss qualify as one of the top upsets of the week – it also turns the Canyon League title race into one of the craziest ones in the state. Thousand Oaks finished the game on a 29-3 run in a 36-23 win over the Musketeers to move to a conference-leading 4-1 in league play.
PREGAME: In the midst of a Canyon League race that has so much potential for so much chaos, Moorpark might be three games away from an undefeated regular season. The Musketeers' incredible 35-28 win over Newbury Park two weeks ago may retroactively prove to be the league championship. Especially because Newbury Park responded to take down previously-unbeaten Agoura. So, a Moorpark win would bring the program one big step closer to history, and a Moorpark loss would send the conference into chaos. Thousand Oaks is the heavy underdog at 5-3, but don't write the Lancers off from pulling off the upset. They played Newbury Park very competitively and have blown out all other Ventura County competition this season.
17. Mira Costa 28, Santa Monica 21
No longer is Mira Costa one of the best winless teams in California and beyond. The Mustangs are now 1-7 after taking down league foe Santa Monica, which entered 6-1.
PREGAME: A team of Mira Costa's caliber starting 0-7 is an aberration and then some. Like San Juan Hills was last year, Mira Costa is one of the best California high school football teams in recent memory to lose its first seven games. And that'll be eight games if Mira Costa doesn't knock off Santa Monica (6-1) on the road. That's because the Mustangs have played nothing but heavyweights in Damien, St. Francis (La Cañada), Villa Park, Culver City, Mayfair, Palos Verdes, and San Juan Hills – which is 7-0 after last year's 0-7 start. And they played every opponent except Damien close, with most of those games coming right down to the wire. In a 9-7 loss last week, Mira Costa nearly stunned unbeaten Palos Verdes, which might be on its way to a third consecutive league sweep. Meanwhile, resurgent Santa Monica just picked up its first Bay League victory since before the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season. That came after opening with a 27-0 loss to Palos Verdes. So, this is one of the biggest games of the regular season for both squads – and with no shortage of potential storylines.
16. Tustin 21, Crean Lutheran 0
The Tillers' dominance remains unwavering. Tustin is now 8-0 with a combined score margin of 309-137 after rolling to a 21-0 win over Crean Lutheran. That means Tustin will be the clear favorite against Cypress in Week Ten when it goes for a sweep of the Empire League.
PREGAME: What a year for Tustin. The Tillers are 7-0, and almost every game has been a lopsided win even though they've faced strong competition. And they're favored to make it 8-0 as well as they head to Crean Lutheran looking to put a hurting on yet another good team. However, Tustin isn't the only team in the Empire League having a banner year. It's easy to forget that Crean Lutheran has only been around since 2007 with its fast rise in so many sports, but it's true, and this is only the 15th year of Crean Lutheran football. The Saints have perhaps their most talented squad ever and are 6-1, with a competitive loss to Trabuco Hills and statement wins in practically every other game. Given that Tustin beat Trabuco Hills 40-19, winning this potential league title game is a tall order for Crean Lutheran. But if they pull it off, they'll then be the favorite to defeat Cypress in Week 10 for a title.
15. San Marcos (San Marcos) 27, Ramona (Ramona) 0
PREGAME: First-year Palomar League contestants Ramona and San Marcos both seem to be in the same spot entering Week Eight – underdogs behind Del Norte (San Diego), but legitimate conference title contenders nonetheless. All three teams are 2-0 this week, but one of the three candidates will see its odds take a big hit when Ramona and San Marcos clash. While a three-way tie will still be possible, the loser of this matchup will be out of the running for an undisputed crown.
14. Northview 26, San Dimas 12
PREGAME: While Northview is technically 6-1 thanks to an out-of-state loss, it's looking more and more like the Vikings aren't going to lose a game this regular season to anyone in California. However, one of the hardest stretches of their season is yet to start – Valle Vista League play. After a 14-13 win over Bonita in Week Six (and a Week Seven bye), Northview enters conference play as the clear top public school team in the San Gabriel Valley. Still, San Dimas is always a tough out. Whoever wins this week still has to deal with Diamond Ranch and Los Altos, so this may or may not prove to be the race's defining game.
13. Great Oak 14, Murrieta Mesa 7
For the second year in a row, the Big West - Lower is Great Oaks' to lose after outscoring Murrieta Mesa two touchdowns to one.
PREGAME: This looks awfully familiar. Murrieta Mesa and Great Oak entering Big West League play below .500 before establishing themselves as the top teams in the league? That's what happened the first year of league history – in which Great Oak edged out Mesa 13-7 for a title – and it's become the story in its second year of existence as well. Murrieta Mesa clearly isn't worse for wear after starting the season 0-5 with losses against nothing but heavyweights – Tesoro, Vista Murrieta, Valencia (Valencia), Murrieta Valley, and Beaumont. After starting league play with a 34-21 win over Santiago (Corona), the Rams made a huge statement with a 52-17 rout of Temecula Valley. Making this the perfect time for them to play a title game. Like Murrieta Mesa, Great Oak lost to Murrieta Valley and Vista Murrieta in non-league play, and fell to another team from the Upper Division, Chaparral. It eked out a one-point win against M.L. King to open league play, and then thrashed Corona last week to set this title game up. Like last year, this one will almost assuredly come down to the wire, so grab your popcorn.
12. Oak Hills 42, Apple Valley 21
It's a three-peat atop the Mojave River League for Oak Hills. The Bulldogs set the tone with a 14-0 first quarter and Karson Cox ran for four touchdowns in their 42-21 win over Apple Valley.
PREGAME: The Mojave Desert League has seen some interesting title races in the last decade or more, including some big upsets. One thing it hasn't seen in recent history is a tie for first place. But that could change in 2023. In fact, the only time in the last 20 years that two teams finished with the same record atop the standings was in 2016. That year, Serrano and Oak Hills both went 4-1 in conference play. But there was a clear tie-breaker, as Serrano defeated Oak Hills head-to-head despite getting upset by Burroughs (Ridgecrest) for its lone league loss. If Apple Valley is able to pull off a major upset on Friday, a three-team co-championship is likely to occur. After Oak Hills gave upstart Hesperia its only loss, a 42-3 bludgeoning, Hesperia shocked Apple Valley 15-14 last week. Apple Valley gave Oak Hills a good battle in last year's league championship before falling 41-27. And despite entering 3-3 this time, it still has the size and pedigree to be scary when in peak form. Otherwise, it'll be time for Oak Hills to celebrate a three-peat in the MRL.
11. Mount Miguel 46, El Capitan 21
The Matadors led 27-7 at halftime in a league title game that was never close. Matthew Barton threw five touchdown passes, three going to Jeremiah Castillo.
PREGAME: One of many clear-cut league title games on this week's list sees Mount Miguel (6-1), fresh off a bye week, as a heavy favorite at home on Thursday. But after dominant wins against Monte Vista (Spring Valley) and Valhalla, El Capitan can't be counted out. El Capitan is the reigning league champion, but before its aforementioned league wins, it took a three-game tumble against Steele Canyon, Santana, and West Hills. Mount Miguel, on the other hand, seeks its first Grossmont - Valley League championship in a decade.
10. Dana Hills 21, Laguna Hills 20
That last time Dana Hills football won a league title, none of its current players were born yet. But it looks like that's all about to change.
The Dolphins ended one of the longest winning streaks in the California – reigning state champion Laguna Hills' 15-game tear – to make themselves the new favorite in the Pacific Coast League. Owen Walz scored two touchdowns, surpassed 250 all-purpose yards, and made seven tackles for Dana Hills
PREGAME: As if winning a section and state championship last season wasn't enough, Laguna Hills is 7-0 to start 2023. That makes a 15-game winning streak heading into this matchup against the second-ranked team in the Pacific Coast League, Dana Hills (5-2). So, with one of the best winning streaks in the state on the line for Laguna Hills, what's on the line for Dana Hills? A shot at the Dolphins' first league title in at least 20 years.
9. Ayala 29, Bonita 26
After coming up just short last year, Ayala is two more strong performances away from becoming a conference champion once again. Marquis Monroe scored two touchdowns and recorded well over 250 yards of offense as Ayala outdueled the second-ranked team in the Mountain West League, Bonita, 29-26.
PREGAME: After a 5-0 start, Bonita came painfully close to proving itself as the top public school team in the San Gabriel Valley but fell 14-13 to Northview. However, the Bearcats responded with a beatdown of Sierra Vista, and have a reasonable chance of winning the Mountain West League. Ayala came up one point short of doing just that last year, getting second place after losing 30-29 to Charter Oak and later beating Bonita by 23 points. This year, it again looks to be a toss-up heading into the apparent conference title game. Ayala enters just 3-4, but it's battle-tested from valiantly taking on a particularly challenging non-league schedule.
8. Liberty (Winchester) 40, San Jacinto 37
A Montain Pass League title in a football program's second year of existence?
Why not?
Liberty held off incumbent league power and reigning CIFSS D6 champion San Jacinto 40-37, avenging its only regular season loss from its inaugural season.
PREGAME: Liberty football went 9-2 and made the CIFSS D8 playoffs in its first year of existence. Now sitting at 6-1 in year two, there's a real chance that the Bison run the table in Mountain Pass League play in year two. San Jacinto won by a whopping 42-0 last year, and still has one of the best receivers in the country in 4-star Oregon commit Dillon Gresham. But based on solely 2023 results, Liberty doesn't appear to be that much of an underdog this time around. While the Bison haven't played a brutal schedule, they're 6-1 with their only loss coming in overtime to San Diego heavyweight Del Norte. This will go down as a marquee win for whichever team pulls it out.
7. Carlsbad 17, Torrey Pines 7
It's a five-peat. Carlsbad's defense shined yet again as the Lancers unofficially clinched their fifth consecutive Avocado League title.
PREGAME: Two weeks ago, we hyped up Carlsbad versus Mission Hills to be the game of the week because of Mission Hills' penchant for taking Carlsbad down to the wire. Well, Carlsbad rolled past Mission Hills in a no-doubter, and Torrey Pines upset Mission Hills 10-6 the following week anyway. So, let's try this again. This is the Avocado League title game. After starting the season with multi-score losses to formidable foes, Del Norte (San Diego) and San Clemente, Torrey Pines has reeled off five straight wins. And last week's makes it the new No. 2 team in the conference. Does that mean Carlsbad isn't favored to beat the Falcons by a few scores? No. But Torrey Pines is so good defensively right now that not even Carlsbad can risk starting slow and going down multiple scores early.
6. Santa Margarita 34, JSerra 31
Yet another thriller between these two local rivals.
This time, Santa Margarita avenged a narrow 2022 playoff defeat to JSerra – which avenged a one-point regular season loss to Santa Margarita – led by a surreal showing from Trent Mosley. He ran for 87 yards and two touchdowns, caught 10 passes for 230 yards and two TDs, and totaled 108 yards returning kicks and punt. That's four touchdowns and 425 all-purpose yards, plus two tackles.
PREGAME: Within the madness that is Trinity League play, it's often forgotten that the conference's southern Orange County constituents, Santa Margarita and JSerra, are local rivals. Of course, it doesn't hurt that they are usually right next to each other fighting for positioning in the nation's toughest conference as well. Santa Margarita's breakthrough game in the Anthony Rouzier era was a 42-0 beatdown of JSerra in the 2020-21 spring season, and the Eagles won their next two league meetings as well. But JSerra responded in their most recent meeting by overcoming a 20-5 halftime deficit to knock Santa Margarita out of the 2022 CIFSS D1 playoffs. After finishing in third place in the league during the last two seasons, the Eagles have their back against the wall to preserve the hierarchy. That's because they fell 28-20 to Orange Lutheran last week right after JSerra beat OLu 24-14. If Santa Margarita wins on Friday, it looks to be a repeat of last year's three-way tie for third. If not, it'll be a particularly tough loss for Santa Margarita and monumental win for JSerra.
5. Crenshaw 35, Dorsey 34
Just like that, the Coliseum League is one of the best conference races in SoCal. While the Cougars came from behind to outduel rival Dorsey 35-34, Dymally – which knocked off Crenshaw a week ago – got upset by King/Drew. That means all four of those teams are now tied for first in the Coliseum League at 2-1.
PREGAME: By simple virtue of being one California's most historic rivalries, Dorsey versus Crenshaw is one of the top games of the season any time the teams are fairly evenly-matched. And in 2023, we might have a great game on our hands. Crenshaw is the clear favorite at 5-2, but Dorsey (2-5) is actually higher in the Coliseum League standings, where it's tied at the top. Dorsey went winless during a tough non-league schedule, but opened conference play with blowouts of George Washington Prep and Fremont (Los Angeles). So the Dons' league title hopes are untainted thus far. Crenshaw lost a well-contested game to upstart Dymally last week, but it can effectively clinch second place by beating its rival, which also opens the door for a three-way tie for first.
4. Citrus Valley 31, Cajon 26
For the first time since 2016, Cajon has lost a game in Citrus Belt League play. Dawson Martinez threw for a touchdown and ran for two more as Citrus Valley broke through for a 31-26 win. When including last season's playoff win over the Cowboys, Citrus Valley actually now has a two-game winning streak in the series.
PREGAME: Arguably the most underrated rivalry game in the Southern Section is set to pop off once again. September was a tough month for Cajon which lost 34-0 to Lincoln (San Diego) and 48-26 to Etiwanda. That ended its unbeaten regular season streak against in-state opponents, which dated back to 2019. However, the Cowboys' undefeated streak in Citrus Belt League play, which started in 2017, is still alive and well. But that could change. After all, Citrus Valley actually did break through to beat Cajon last season – in the playoffs. That rewrote recent history in the rivals' matchup, but not as far as Cajon's league streak is concerned, because Cajon rolled to a 28-7 win in their league meeting. For most of Cajon's streak, Citrus Valley has been the No. 2 team in the league, including the last two seasons. And after Citrus Valley defeated Beaumont 33-29 last week, that likely won't change. Citrus Valley is once again an underdog heading to Cajon for a league title match, but that was the same situation it was in the last time they met. So get ready for a potential instant classic.
3. Warren 28, Downey (Downey) 21 – at SoFi Stadium
New setting, same status quo.
In the first high school game ever played at SoFi Stadium, Warren once again proved to be a little bit ahead of its crosstown/Gateway League rival, Downey. Warren quarterback Madden Iamaleava completed 23 of 28 passes for 195 yards and four touchdowns.
PREGAME: As usual, Downey enters the 2023 Gateway League championship as the underdog against crosstown rival Warren, but not by an insurmountable margin. On its own, this meeting already constitutes one of the best league rivalry games in Southern California. But when you throw in the X-factor – setting – you have one of the most highly-anticipated regular season games in recent regular season memory, in SoCal and beyond. That's because this is the first high school football game to ever be played at SoFi Stadium. Put it all together, and this one is about as good as it gets.
2. San Clemente 20, Mission Viejo 10
With all the great battles arch rivals Mission Viejo and San Clemente have had in recent years, this stat is hard to believe: when San Clemente defeated Mission Viejo on the road on Friday, it was the Tritons first road win in the series since the early 1990s. Per Mike Huntley of OC Varsity, Aiden Rubin ran for 239 yards for San Clemente, and Matai Tagoa'i went for two sacks. Max Gonzalez recorded the interception-return touchdown that sealed the game with 1:39 left.
PREGAME: The best public school football rivalry in California might be set for one of its best editions yet. After picking up its first loss by one point against Murrieta Valley in Week Five, San Clemente finds itself in its usual spot entering the probable South Coast League title game – as an underdog. But not by an overwhelming amount like in 2022, 2021, and 2019 when it got smoked – or in 2018, when it pulled off an incredible upset. The Tritons' last win in the series came in the final game of the 2020-21 spring season, when they entered as slight underdogs and broke their rivals' hearts with a last-second field goal to win 10-7. It's no secret that Mission Viejo isn't having its strongest season as a result of being very young, but the Diablos are a nationally-relevant program even during reloading years. After their 2019 win, it looked like they might be at the start of a long winning streak against their arch nemesis, and they'd love nothing more than to keep moving in that direction.
1. St. John Bosco 28, Mater Dei 0
That's how you silence the doubters.
Less than a month after getting upset by Hawaii powerhouse Kahuku – which came a week after Mater Dei beat Kahuku 55-6 – St. John Bosco upset nationally top-ranked Mater Dei in style. St. John Bosco handed its rival its first shutout in 12 years, blowing the Monarchs out 28-0 and looking the part while doing it. The win nearly guarantees the Braves their first Trinity League title in five years.
READ: ST. JOHN BOSCO STUNS MATER DEI
PREGAME: For the first time in SBLive's five seasons covering the battles between Mater Dei (7-0) and St. John Bosco (6-1), we have a couple major twists. This time around, there's already a heavy favorite and underdog going into their regular season meeting, which will more than likely count for a Trinity League title and the top overall seed in the Southern Section playoffs. After falling to Kahuku in Hawaii on Sept. 16, Bosco has a loss entering league play for the first time since 2017, when it lost its season opener in Florida to St. Thomas Aquinas in overtime. A particularly lopsided loss to Mater Dei could plausibly see Bosco fall outside the national top 10 for the first time in nearly a decade. The case against St. John Bosco this week isn't just that it fell to Kahuku – it's that Mater Dei had destroyed Kahuku 55-8 in Kahuku's previous game.
Mater Dei wasn't as convincing as expected in relatively low-scoring wins over Corona Centennial and St. Frances Academy (MD). But it still won those games by multiple scores, and has overall looked the part of the No. 1 team in the country. Along with the Kahuku win, Mater Dei's 42-0 demolition of JSerra last week was one of its best of the year. The other twist is that this is their first matchup for Mater Dei first-year head coach Frank McManus. With that said, he's spent the last 16 years coaching against the Braves as a Mater Dei assistant coach, so he won't exactly be in culture shock. And even if he were brand new to the ordeal, it'd be almost impossible to say specifically how that factor would be likely to come into play. But it's still a storyline to watch.
Will one of the most highly-touted Mater Dei teams ever inch closer towards immortality with a statement win over the reigning national champion? Can St. John Bosco take home its first Trinity League title since 2018? Will those storylines matter in the long run if these teams rematch in the CIFSS finals with a different result? The whole nation will be watching as those questions begin to get answered in Bellflower on Friday.
MORE NOTABLE SCORES:
La Serna 42, Newbury Park 14
Statement win alert. Led by 3-star ATH prospect Owen Long, La Serna went on the road and blew out Newbury Park 42-14, winning both halves 21-7.
Diamond Ranch 14, Los Altos (Los Altos) 7
Not even a month after having heart surgery, Diamond Ranch head coach Eric Martinez made his return to the sideline on Friday. And the Panthers responded with a 14-7 overtime win over Los Altos (Los Altos) in their Valle Vista League opener. Dmariya Thomas led the way in overtime with the game-winning touchdown and interception.
Charter Oak 41, Alta Loma 7
In game No. 9 in the countdown, Ayala edged out Bonita 29-26 for first place in the Mountain West League. The other team in first place in the Mountain West League? Charter Oak, which opened conference play by demolishing Alta Loma led by Corin Berry and Torry Huff.
La Habra 45, Sunny Hills 0
Last week, La Habra's 33-game winning streak atop the Freeway League game to a shocking end with a 27-21 loss to Troy. How did the Highlanders respond? With a 45-0 beatdown of another rival from Fullerton, Sunny Hills. La Habra led 28-0 just a quarter into the game.
- Banning (Wilmington) 27, Gardena 26
- San Pedro 35, Narbonne 26
- Serra (Gardena) 48, Bishop Amat 28
- Ventura 35, Buena 7
- Palos Verdes 42, Redondo Union 0
- San Juan Hills 57, El Toro 7
- San Fernando 35, Panorama 15
- St. Francis (La Cañada) 41, Cathedral 25
- Chino 38, Covina 25
- Granite Hills (Apple Valley) 47, Victor Valley 14
- St. Paul 40, Paraclete 28
- Camarillo 23, Oak Park 6
- Hueneme 28, Santa Paula 21
- Oaks Christian 45, Westlake 14
